How to Cope with Children’s Eye Allergies

Children’s eye allergies can strike at any time, with or without nasal or skin allergies. Whether our kids react with itchy eyes, burning, swelling or other symptoms, it is not fun watching them become so uncomfortable.

dealing with kids' eye allergies — Itchy eyes are a common symptoms of eye allergies. Source: David Castillo Dominici via Freedigitalphotos.net

As WebMD shares, knowing what triggers your child’s eye allergies, it’s much easier to treat and alleviate their symptoms. Some of the common triggers are pollen, pet dander, mold, and dust mites.

Wanting to help our children is always a top priority, here are some ways you can avoid what triggers your child’s eye allergies and help cope with them.

To avoid allergens:

Stay inside when your local pollen count is high.
Use the air conditioning in your home and car and avoid opening windows.
Use sunglasses to keep pollen from directly hitting the eye and protect your child’s eye health.
Use mite proof covers on bedding and wash bedding in hot water.
Use a dehumidifier to reduce mold build up in your home.

To treat eye allergies:

Use a wet wash cloth to clean off the face and eye area after playing outdoors.
Hold a warm washcloth on the eyes until pain subsides.
Have your child take a shower or bath, making sure they wash their hair, after playing outside to wash pollen and other irritants out.
Use an over-the-counter antihistamine medicine.
Administer antihistamine eye drops if you know it is a pollen allergy.

Also, talk to your child’s doctor about the best way to treat your child’s eye allergies. A good rule of thumb as to when to talk to a doctor is if the symptoms last more than two days when being treated or if they worsen.

For more information and tips on keeping your kids’ eyes and vision healthy, be sure to subscribe to the Real Kids Shades blog to receive regular update in your inbox. In addition to eye health, we’ll share the latest news on our sunglasses just for kids and ideas for safe family fun, including crafts, games, and much more.

Tips for avoiding allergens and treating eye allergies compiled from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and Seattle Children’s.